Yokohama Customs House

Interspace & Power
Jul 9, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Dec 19, 2024

Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Architect: Tori Yoshitake(Ministry of Finance), Muraji Shimomoto (Ministry of Finance)
Style: Mixtures of Romanesque, Islamic, Moorish etc.
Completed in: 1934

A customs house plays a significant role in the exercise and demonstration of power within a nation by overseeing the regulation and collection of duties on imported goods. At the intersection of commerce and governance, the building operates as an authority of the state demonstrating its ability to enforce policies and to maintain the economic integrity and security of a country's borders safeguarding national interests in the realm of international trade. Customs houses are typically located at ports of entry, such as seaports, airports, or border crossings.

The current Yokohama Customs House was constructed in 1934 and still serves its function as of today.

"Customs House Standing at City's Waterfront"

Standing at the Yokohama's waterfront, its Customs House has been a physical representation of a crucial centre for managing import/export duties and regulations.

"Striking architectural blend of Western and Eastern styles"

The port of Yokohama was officially opened in 1859 after the Perry Expedition to Japan. The 1st Yokohama Customs House was built in 1873. The 2nd building was built in 1885 but destroyed due to the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. The current building is the 3rd Customs House building for the port of Yokohama and designed by the in-house architects at the Ministry of Finance at that time.